Coin-control apparatus



O. D. JENNINGS COIN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed D90. 1. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheetl Ode fi. cli /22217394 Nov. 24, 1925.

O. D. JENNINGS COIN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1.

1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR D. c/flnzlnga A T ORNE Y Nov. 24, 1925-O. D. JENNINGS cow CONTROL APPARATUS :5 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed Dec. 1. 1924INVEN7 "OR Ode Z7. climzngs BY I ' AT?0RNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES om: D. Jnnmnes, or PALATINE, ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROL APPARATITS.

Application filed December 1, 1924. Serial No. 753,218.

To all echo/1g. 7'6 may concern:

Be it known that I, ()m: D. JENNINGS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Palatine, in the cdunty ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and uesfullinproveu'ients in Coin-Control Apparatus; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skill-ed iu the art to which it .appertainsto make and use the same.

This invention relates to a coin controlled apparatus and has for itsobject to provide a construction more elficient in use than thoseheretofore proposed. 6

lVith this and other objects in view the invention consists in the noveldetails of construction and arrangements of parts as will be disclosedmore fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like nuu erals' designate like parts in all the news;

Figure 1 is a side elevational View, partlyin section, of a coincontrolled apparatus to which the present improvement is applied;

Figure 2 is a front eleva'tional view the parts shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an. enlarged detail view in front elevation of the coinchute' and its associated parts;

Figure 4: is a sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a rear portion of the coin chute andtrip device;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of Figure5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line- 88 of Figure 5and looking in'the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a. vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 4looking in the direction of the arrows and is similar to Figure 8 butshows the trip device in aditferent position; and

Figure 10 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure {1 but showingthe parts in a (lilferent position.

The present improvement can be applied to a vending machine or othercoin controlled apparatus. In the drawings, the

actuating and coin controlled devices for such an apparatus only areshown. As

shown, the coin controlled machine or apparatus is arranged within anenclosing casing 1 and the actuating and coin controlling devices aremounted upon an upright bracket 2 fixed within the forward portion ofthe casing. The main operating lever 3 is mounted on a pivot pin 4 onone side of the bracket 2 and projects forwardly through a slot 5 in thecasing, being provided on its forward end with an'operating handle 6.The inner end of the lever is operatively connected by a link 7 to thevending or other means which are to be actuated A spring 8 connected tothe upper portion. of the bracket 2 and to the actuating lever 3 holdsthe latter in normal position against a stop 9. A full-stroke ratchet 10is formed upon the central portion of the lever and is arranged tocooperate with a pivot-ed, spring-held clog 11 on the bracket 2 tocompel a complete shift of the lever before it can be returned to normalpositiou.

A locking latch 12 for the actuating lever is mounted at its lower endupon a pivot 13 fixed to the lower front portion of the bracket. Thelatch extends upwardly on one side of the lever 3 and is provided at itsinner edge with a curved or arc-shaped portion 14 which terminates atits upper end ina shoulder 15. Above the shoulder, the latch is providedwith a rearwardly extending cam portion 16 which is arranged to engage alaterally projecting lug 17 formed upon the lever 3. A spring 18 isconnected at one end to a hook 19 on the upper end of the locking latch12 and at its opposite end to a pin on the upper rear portion of thebracket 2. This spring tends to swing the latch rearwardly and holds itsrear edge in engagement with the lug 17 of the actuating lever.Normally, the cam lug 16 of the latch engages the lug 17 and the latchis then held in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The lever can be depressed to a slight extent without inserting a coinbut, unless a coin is inserted, the spring 18 will move the latchrearwardly as the lever 3 is depressed and, after a slight initialmovement of the lever, the lug 17 thereon will engage the shoulder 15 ofthe latch which will thereby arrest and lock the lever against furthermovement. This slight initial movement of the actuating lever is notsufficient to bring the full-stroke dog 11 in engagement with the teethof the ratchet 10.

The latch 12 is controlled by a lever which is mounted between its endson a pivot 21 fixed to the upper front portion of the bracket 2 and thelower end of the lever is provided with a pin 22 which engages avertical slot 23 formed in the upper end of the latch. The upper end ofthe lever 20 is laterally offset over the upper portion of the bracketand carries a finger or plunger 24 which is adjustably fixed thereto bya set screw 25 and extends forwardly therefrom toward the coin chute ofthe apparatus. As the latch shifts from its normal to its lockingposition during the initial movement of the actuating lever 3, the upperend of the trip arm 20 moves forwardly and the plunger 24 is forcedthrough openings formed in the coin chute. But if a coin ofpredetermined size is inserted in the coin chute, it will be engaged bythe plunger so that the latter and the. lever 20 will pre vent the shiftof the latch to its locking position and the operative movement of theactuating lever can be completed. The complete shift of the lever isarrested by the engagement of the lug 17 thereon with a stop shoulder 26formed upon the forward edge of the bracket 2.

The coin chute comprises a back portion 27 in which the coin slot 28 isformed and a front cover plate 29 is fixed thereto as by screws 30. Thecoin chute is fixed to the upper end of the bracket 2 by screws 31 andextends upwardly therefrom through the top of the casing 1. Preferably,its upper end is laterally offset and its front portion or cover plate29 is provided with an opening 32 through which the coins are inserted.

The inserted coins will pass through the slot or guideway 28 and will bearrested in operative position in the coin chute by a stop pin 33 and bythe toe of a yielding stop or dog 34, as indicated at a in Figs. 3, 4and 10. The pin is fixed to the back portion 27 of the coin chute and isarranged on one side of the slot 28 just below a shoulder 35 at the edgeof the slot., The dog 34 which projects into the opposite edge of theslot is L-shaped as shown and is connected by a pivot pin 36 to a lug 37on the side of the chute. A rearwardly projecting finger .38 on thelower end of the dog is connected to one end of a spring 39, theopphsite end of which is connected to a pin 40 fixed to the chute andprojecting rearwardly therefrom. The spring yieldingly holds the dog innormal position so that it will engage and arrest the inserted coin.When thus arrested inoperative position, the left-hand portion of theinserted coin, as seen in Figs. .3 and 4, will lie in front of theforward end of the plunger 24 and, if of proper size, it will'arrest theplunger and as described, prevent the movement of the latch 12 to itslocking position so that the actuating lever 3 can be completelyoperated.

The forward end of the plunger normally extends within an. opening 41 inthe back portion 27 of the chute and closely adjacent the rear face ofthe coin slot. It is thus arranged to engage the aforementioned lefthandportion of the coinwhich has been arrested in the operative position inthe coin slot and will immediately so engage the coin as soon as theoperating lever 3 and latch 12 are started from the normal positionshown in Fig. 1, The front or cover plate 29 of the chute is providedwith an enlarged, substantially circular opening 42 throu h which theplunger 24 moves in case its shift is not obstructed. This opening is solocated relatively to the stop pin 33 and the dog 34, when the latter isin normal posi tion, that the edges of the opening will overlap theedges of a coin of predetermined size, for example, a five cent piece.Such a coin of predetermined or proper size is indicated in operativeposition at a in Figs. 3, 4 and 10. It is obvious that such a coin willhe held against movement and will obstruct the shift of the plunger 24when the actuating lever 3 is depressed and, as described, will preventthe movement of the latch 12 to its locking position and permit thecomplete operative movement of the actuating lever. But if a coin ofsmaller size is inserted, for example, a one cent piece, i will bearrested by the stop pin 33 and dog 34 in the position indicated indotted lines at b in Fig. 3 and the left-hand edge portion of theopening 42 in the cover plate will not extend over the adjacent edge ofthis smaller coin. Then, when an attempt is made to depress the lever 3,the plunger or finger 24 will engage the coin and force it fromoperative position forwardly out through the opening 42 and the latch 12will move to its operative position and lock the lever, after the slightinitial movement thereof. Thus, the plunger 24 and lever 20 notonlytcooperate with a. coin of proper determined size to permit theoperation of the apparatus, but also serves to positively force smallercoins from operative position in the coin chute so that the operation ofthe apparatus cannot be effected thereby.

-It should be noted that the stop pin 33 and the stop dog 34 at theopposite edge portions of the coin chute arrest inserted coins andaccurately register the same relative to the enlarged substantiallycircular, opening 42, so that the left hand edge of this opening, asseen in the drawings, need only overlap the edges of coins ofpredetermined size to a slight extent. Hence, all 7 .coins of less thanpredetermined size will invariably be forced by the plunger 24 from and34 arrest the coins in such position that the edges of the opening 42 in.the coin chute overlapvto a considerable extent the opposite side edgesof coins of proper size, but the edge of a smaller coin adjacent thepath of movement of the plunger 24 is left entirely free from top tobottom of the coin; lVith this arrangement the proper sized coins willinvariably effect the operation of the apparatus, while smaller coinswill invariably be ejected from operative position by the plunger 24.

The back portion 27 of the coin chute, as shown in l ig. 4, is providedwith an areshaped slot 43.- The cover plate 22) thereof is provided witha similar slot 44 which merges with the opening 42 therein and isarranged in line with the slot 43. An arm 45 pivotally connected to alug 46 on the cover plate carries a lug 47 whichprojeets rearwardlythrough the slot 44 and into the slot 43. A link 48 connects the arm 45to the operating lever 3 and holds the arm in normal position with itslug in the upper portions of the slots 43 and 44 and adjacent a shoulder49 on one edge of the coin slot. This shoulder deflects the insertedcoins so that they will pass around the lug 47 and between this lug andthe opposite edge of the slot which, at this portion of the slot, iscurved as shown at 80 in Figs; 3, and 10.

The initial movement of the operating lever 3 will not depress the armsufficiently to bring the lug 47 in engagement with coins in operativeposition in the coin chute, but, when a coin of proper predeterminedsize is inserted, the complete shift of the lever will swing the arm 45downwardly so that the lug 47 will engage the coin in operative positionand-force it downwardly pastthe stop \pin 33 and dog-'34. During thismovement, the dog is forced outwardly against the tension of'its spring39 and the coin moves past the fixed stop pin 33 through a cutawayportion 50 in theopposite edge of the'coin slot.

In the form shown, the lower portion of the chute is provided with meansfor arresting the coin when it is forced, as described, from operativeposition by thelug 47. For thi'spurpose, a lever 51 is mounted on therear face of the coin chute and is connected at its upper end to a pivotpin The lower end of the lever is provided with a forwardly. projectinglug 53 which extends the back'portion .17 of the chute and into theleft-hand portion of the coin slot. A spring 56 connectsthe lever to thepin 40, and holds it in normal position with the lug 54 engaging theinner edge of the opening 55. WVhen a coin is forced downwardly, asdescribed, from the operative position shown at a in Figs. 3 and 4, itwill be arrested, by the lug 54, and a cooperating shoulder 57 formedupon the opposite edge of the coin slot, as indicated at c in Figs. 2 4and 'l(). The coin will be arrested as described, since the spacebetween the shoulder 57 and the lug 54, when the latter is in normalposition, shown in Fig. 4, is slightly less than the diameter of thecoin. lVhen another coin is similarlyforced from operative position, itwill engage the coin on the lug 54 and shoulder 57'forcing the latterdownwardly to the position indicated at (l in Figs. 3 and 4 where itwill be held in this positon by the lug 53 and the shoulder 58 formedupon the opposite edge of the coin slot. Of course. when still anothercoin is forced from operative position, the lowermost coin in the coinchute will be forced therefrom. The coins in the lower portion of thecoin chute can be inspected through a glass icovered opening 59 in thefront of the casing and bogus coins thus detected.

instances this would not materially affect the.

mechanism, yet on the other hand, it has been possible/for a second cointo be inserted, through the opening 32, which was of such a thinnessthat when said'eoin had reached the previously inserted coin, thecontacting portions of the two coins would become overlapped, with theresult that this overlapped condition would cause the two coins tojam inthe coin slot and thus i ender the mechanism inoperative until theproper person an rived and remedied the jammed condition. To overcomethis condition there is provided an automatic trip device which willcause subsequent coins to be thrown out of the coin slot untilthe'previously inserted coin has caused the mechanism to, operate, saidsubsequent coins being returned to the customer. I

To this end there'is provided on the rear plate 27 of the coin chute theU-shaped horizontally disposed bracket member having rearwardlyextending arms 'adapted to pivotally SUPPOl'b the- U-shaped lever ortrip member 66. This trip member 66 is prefer ably stamped from a pieceof sheet material to form the upwardly extending arm 67 and thedownwardly extending arm '68, both arms integral with the centralportion'of the trip device which is provided with an integral pairofforwardly'projecting arms fitspace or recess 28 between the front andrear plates 29 and 27 respectively. lVith particular reference toFigures 7, 8, and 9 it will be seen that the extreme edge of the stop 69is adapted to engage a groove or recess on the inner side of the frontplate 29 so that the space 28 will be positively bridged by the stop 69.

lrvith particular reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be observed thatthe opening 7 0 is angularly disposed to a horizontal plane and that thestop member 69 is skewed or located in a plane likewise angularlydisposed to a horizontal plane, thus providing said member 69 with aninclined upper surface.

The lower arm 68 of the trip device is provided with an angularly bentend portion or fin 71 extending forwardly and. provided with a camsurface or edge 72 inclined relatively to the coin chute. This endportion 71 is adaptedto reciprocate through a lower slot 73 formed inthe rear plate 27 of the chute and to extend across said chute so thatthe cam surface 72 will engage a groove or cutaway portion, not numberedin the drawings but illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, in the front plate29. The downwardly projecting arm 68, in order that-the trip device mayfunction properly, is provided with a laterally extending portion asclearly seen from the figures, having secured to its end a weight 74which is sufficient to normally compel the fin 71 toextend across thecutaway portion 28 of the coin chute so that the cam surface 72 willoccupy the aforemen- 1 ch a relation of parts is illustratedparticularly in Figures 6 and' 8" wherein it will be seen that the fin71 lies intioned groove.

the path of a coin inserted in the chute. Referring to Figures 6 and 8it will be observed that the fin 71 extends across the coin slot 28 dueto the weight 74. Upon the in sertion of a coin, shown. in the abovementioned figures at 75, e advancing edge of said coin will strike t einclined surface 72 of the edge of the fin l disengage said surface fromits associated groove'andforce the fin 71 rearwai'ds until the edge 72rests upon the flat, surface of the coin. When the coin 75 confes torest upon the pin 33 and the toe of the dog 34 as fully described above,the coin and trip device will be in the positions illustrated in Figure9. When the parts are 'in'this position it will be observed that thestop member 69 will have been projected across the coin slot 28 and theextreme edge portion thereof will lie in its associated groove, as shownin Figures 7 and 9.

Upon the subsequent coin being inserted before the coin 75 has operatedthe mechanism, it will be obvious, with particular reference to Figures4, 7, 9, and 10, that the stop member 69, now lying across the coinchute 28,'will not only actually stop said subsequently inserted coinbut the inclined upper surface of said member 69 will positively causesaid coin, indicated at 76, to roll sideways out of the coin chute 28through the opening 77 in the side of said coin slot and into anysuitable conveyor,v such as 78, adapted to return the coin 76 to thecustomer.

Upon the operation of the mechanism as hereinbefore described the coin75 will have been projected downwardly from its position shown at a inFigure 4 to the position shown at 0. During this movement, see Figure 4,the coin will have passed out of the path of the fin member 71, thusallowing said fin to again advance across the slot 28 and at thesametime remove the upper stop member 69 from its position across thesaid slot 28. In Figures 6 and 7 the full line positions show therespective members 69 and 71 across the slot 28 and in the path of anycoin advancing down said slot, while the dashed line position of saidmembers show the .extreme limit of motion of the members 69 and 71,orthe coin slot 28 cleared.

The parts of the trip device 66 are so formed that whenever a coinstarts the movement of the fin 71 in a rearward direction, the stopmember 69 is advanced forwardly into the path of a subsequently insertedcoin. Also the trip device is so positioned upon the rear member 27 ofthe coinchute that a coin in the position shown at a the drawings willcause the stop member 69 to be in operative position to expel afollowing coin such 76 from the ,coin slot 28. The upper surface of thestop member 69 is inclined as shown in Figure 4 to cdmpel the coin 76rolling fro-mthe coin slot 78 through the exit 77 therefrom.

- As heretofore described the normalposition of the member 45 is asshown in F igure 2 due to the action of the spring 8. If for any reasona customer inserts a coin through I the opening 32 into the coin chute28 while the handle 6 is in its lowermost position,

the said coin will travel downwardly until it comes to a stop on the pin33am the toe of the dog 34,4111 as hereinbefore described.

But it will be noted in Figure 10-that the lug 47' carried by the lever45 and controlled by the handle 6, is in the lowermost end of thearcuate slot 43 and thus beneath the newly inserted coin. However, thecoin chute is so constructed and the parts so disposed that upon therelease of the operating handle 6 the lug 47 will travel upward. asindicated by the arrow until it assumes its normal position sliownin'dashed lines in the uppermost end of said slot 43. The lug, 4-7during this travel will cause the coin shown at a in said Figure 10 toroll upwards and to the right, in the direction of the arrow in saidfigure. and into the pocket 80.formed in the coin slot 28. This pocket80 is of such size as' fully disclosed in Figure 10 to accommodate acoin of a predetermined size between its arcuatesurface and the path ofthe moving lug 47. Also it should be observed that during theretromovement of the coin into the pocket, said coin will at all timescontact the fin member 71 of the trip device 66, thus causing thediversion of any subsequently insert-ed coin through the exit openmg 77of the coin slot 28.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details ofconstruction as well as the arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit thereof, therefore it is not desired to be limited to theforegoing except as may be demanded bv the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coincontrolled apparatus the combiuation of a chute composed ofa frontand a rear plate, said front plate provided with a groove, andsaid rear plate provided with an upper and a. lower slot; a brackethaving rearwardly extending arms secured to said rear plate; a tripdevice made from sheet material and having-integrally formed therewith apair of forwardly projecting arms fitting between said bracket arms andpivoted thereto, said trip device also having an integral upwardlyprojecting arm provided with an enlarged forwardly projecting endportion provided with an inclined upper surface and adapted toreciprocate in said upper slot, said trip device also pro,- vided withan integral downwardly projecting arm provided with an angularly bentend portion extending forwardly and provided with a cam surface engagingin its forward position the groove in said; front plate, said endportionadapted to reciprocate in said lower slot, said downwardlyprojecting arm provided with an integral laterally extending portionhaving secured at its end a weight sufiieient to normally compel theangularly bent end por-.

tion to occupy said groove; and a coin return slot associated with saidchute adjacent to the said upper slot ada ted to receive a coin directedtherein by t e inclined end portion of said upwardly pro ect ng arm,when'said arm is reciprocated torwardly by a. previously inserted coinmoving said cam surface out of engagement with said oove.

2- n a. coin controlled apparatus the combination of a chute composed ofa front and a rear plate, said' front plate provided with an upper anda. lower groove, and aid rear plate provided with an upper and a lowerslot coacting therewith; a bracket having rearwardly extending armssecured to said rear plate; a trip device made from sheet material andhaving-integrally formed therewith a pair of forwardly projecting armsfitting between said bra-cktt arms and pivoted thereto, said trip devicealso having an integral upwardly projecting arm provided with anenlarged .forwardly projecting end portion provided with an inclinedupper surfa e and adapted to reciprocate in said upper slot and engagesaid upper groove, said trip device also provided. with an integraldownwardly projecting arm provided with an augularly bent end portionextending forv.'ardly and provided'wit-h a cam surface engaging in itsforward position the lower groove in said front plate said end portionadapted to reciprocate in said lower slot, said downwardly projectingarm pro-.

vided with an integral laterally extending portion having secured at itsend a weight sullieient to normally compel the angularly bent endportion to occupy said lower groove; and a coin return slot associatedwith said chute adjacent to the said upper slot adapted to receive acoin directed therein by the inclined end portion of said upwardlyprojecting arm, when said arm is reci 'n'ocated forwardly by apreviously inserted coin moving said ca-m surface out. of engagementwith said lower groove.

3. -l\leans for controlling the operation of coin released apparatuscomprising a coin chute composed of-a front and a rear plate.- saidfront plate provided with a groove and said rear plate provided with aslot; means to arrest a coin inserted in said chute; means ,to releasethe arrested coin; a coin return chute; and means provided with aninclined surface coacting with said slotand said groove andcontrolled-by'an arrested coin, said surface adapted to stop asubsequently inserted coin in said chute and to positively direct thesame into said coin return chute.

4. Meansfor controlling the operation of coin released apparatuscomprising 'a coin chute composed of a front and a rear plate, saidfront plate provided with a grooveand said rear plate provided with aslot; means to arrest a coin inserted in said chute; means to releasethe arrested coin;- a coin return chute; and means provided withan-inclined surface and controlled by an arrested coin adapted to enterand cross said coin chute to coact with said groove, whereby asubsequently inserted coin is stopped and caused to roll from saidinclined surface into said coin return chute;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

" one 1); JENNINGS,

DISCLAIMER 1,5 62,771.0de D. Jennings, Palatine, Ill. COIN-CONTROLAPPARATUS. Patent dated November 24, 1925. Disclaimer filed August 13,1934, by the assignee, O. D. Jennings cf Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer of claims 3 and 4 and of that part of thething patented whichis embraced by claims 3 and 4 in said specification,which are in the following words, to-wit:

3. Means for controlling the operation of coin released apparatuscomprising a coin chute composed of a front and a rear plate, said frontplate provided with a groove and said rear plate provided with a slot;means to arrest a coin inserted in said chute; means to release thearrested coin; a coin return chute; and means provided with an inclinedsurface coacting with said slot and said groove and controlled by anarrested coin; said surface adapted to stop asubsequently inserted coinin said chute and to positively direct the same into said coin returnchute.

.14. Means for controlling the operationof coin released apparatuscomprising a coin chute composed of a front and a rear plate, said frontplate provided'with a groove and said rearplate provided with a slot;means to arrest a coin inserted in said chute; means to release the"arrested coin; a coin return chute; and means provided with an inclinedsurface and controlled by an arrested coin adapted to enter and crosssaid coin chute to coact with said groove, whereby a subsequentlyinserted ccl lin is stopped and caused to roll. from said inclinedsurface intosaid coin return 0 ute. -V

[Ofiicial Gazette September 4, 1934.]

